Buy a Wreck for a source of parts?

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

I am considering bidding on a local auction - to purchase a body-damaged Lightning. These sites are dominated by rebuilders and parting outers. And they seem to have little interest in EV's in general.
So,
Some back-ground: I have a well equiped home auto shop with all the tools and a hoist, etc. Back in the day, before my kids had kids, I bought seven nearly identical Dodge Neons, all 2004's and nearly all Silver - ie swapable parts. I kept 4 cars running for years, with actually the last one going to the crusher just in 2024.
All this to say, it comes naturally to me to be a parts swap guy with some available parts, and yeah I live rural and have acres of 'storage space' for such things.

So here is my idea:
The forum thread that shows guys removing a Standard Range 98kWh battery and installing a 131kWh battery got my attention,
Then the cost of some simple parts like the coolant valve that seems to go every 3-years due to plastic gears that wear.
Disconntinued model making the truck parts likely more and more 'dear' as time goes on...

I saw a similar Black XLT with the 131kWh ER battery pack is up for auction near by, there are currently no bids on it, and it has in the accident report body damage from a low impact winter slide and bang on both sides - ie doors side panels and sides of the bed are all damaged and no one is going to fix all this metal for cheap. But the truck runs and drives has no codes and has super low mileage. The rims match mine but one is scratched up. The motors and 'stuff' must be worth a fortune to buy if needed.

Say I bid $500 and "see what happens"...

At worst; the battery is not reuseable and I have to go through the truck to take off usable parts, then sell the metal left to the recycle for $800 and then dial up "Call2recycleCanada" who will pick up and transport EV batteries for free. ie will not cost me to dispose of the battery even if it were un-usable.

At the best-case, I can upgrade my SR to ER battery, still have the SR for future if needed, plus all the useable mechanicals, motors, wire harnesses, interior, coolant hoses and controls, etc. Being a 2024 like mine it will also have the heat pump system to match mine...

Is this a crazy idea or what do you guys think?

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[JayF]

I think if you're the type of guy to get a parts truck you're the type of guy who can use a parts truck. It's sorta a self-selecting thing?

There's really not a *need* for it by any means, but the possibilities it enables for you might be worth it. I'm that way with computers; less so with trucks .

 

[bmwhitetx]

It was free but I did this with A/C units. Our house had 3 HVAC units of the same make. When one needed replacing I had the indoor unit left behind in the attic and pulled the fan off the outdoor unit. Had a source of various parts to keep the other 2 units running. I used the control board, sensor valves, gas igniter etc. over the years. Was able to fix a lot of problems same day and not wait on parts.

$500 is cheap insurance.

 

[CD4TNF]

I think it's wise since you're able to store the spare. It'll keep you independent from having to rely on the supply chain.

Keeping rodents from chewing the wires would be my only concern.

Go for it!

 

[The Weatherman]

I am considering bidding on a local auction - to purchase a body-damaged Lightning. These sites are dominated by rebuilders and parting outers. And they seem to have little interest in EV's in general.
So,
Some back-ground: I have a well equiped home auto shop with all the tools and a hoist, etc. Back in the day, before my kids had kids, I bought seven nearly identical Dodge Neons, all 2004's and nearly all Silver - ie swapable parts. I kept 4 cars running for years, with actually the last one going to the crusher just in 2024.
All this to say, it comes naturally to me to be a parts swap guy with some available parts, and yeah I live rural and have acres of 'storage space' for such things.

So here is my idea:
The forum thread that shows guys removing a Standard Range 98kWh battery and installing a 131kWh battery got my attention,
Then the cost of some simple parts like the coolant valve that seems to go every 3-years due to plastic gears that wear.
Disconntinued model making the truck parts likely more and more 'dear' as time goes on...

I saw a similar Black XLT with the 131kWh ER battery pack is up for auction near by, there are currently no bids on it, and it has in the accident report body damage from a low impact winter slide and bang on both sides - ie doors side panels and sides of the bed are all damaged and no one is going to fix all this metal for cheap. But the truck runs and drives has no codes and has super low mileage. The rims match mine but one is scratched up. The motors and 'stuff' must be worth a fortune to buy if needed.

Say I bid $500 and "see what happens"...

At worst; the battery is not reuseable and I have to go through the truck to take off usable parts, then sell the metal left to the recycle for $800 and then dial up "Call2recycleCanada" who will pick up and transport EV batteries for free. ie will not cost me to dispose of the battery even if it were un-usable.

At the best-case, I can upgrade my SR to ER battery, still have the SR for future if needed, plus all the useable mechanicals, motors, wire harnesses, interior, coolant hoses and controls, etc. Being a 2024 like mine it will also have the heat pump system to match mine...

Is this a crazy idea or what do you guys think?

Nope, but a $500 bid isn’t likely going to get it. You may pay more like $12-15k.

 

[RickLightning]

Nope, but a $500 bid isn’t likely going to get it. You may pay more like $12-15k.

A few years back, a national ladder brand was going out of business, and they were nearby. They had a huge stock of ladders going up for auction. I toured the warehouse and put in my bids, with visions of a ladder paloosa. I did win a ladder stabilizer, which I haven't used once...

There are professionals that will outbid you, but in this case they are likely to move it to a more hospitable auction location.

 

[RLXXI]

If you can store the sensitive parts in climate control and get it cheap enough, why not?

 

[MotoGary]

If you can buy it for $500, you can double your money just by selling a single tail light! So that's a no brainer. But you won't be able to get it for $500.

I considered bidding on mine that was totaled ....Then sanity kicked in.

 

[CrimsonGhost603]

Great idea, better get what you can. The bottom feeding leeches are coming to take everything as always, on top of raising our electricity bills. Give it a few more years and you wont find a single Lightning battery on ebay or anywhere else if they have their way.

 

[ka-chow]

Seems like a killer idea that I'm ashamed I didn't already think of.

 

[ZSC100]

@Martin Rebuilds does this for a 2nd living and hobby. If it runs and drives and that is advertised in the auction. You won't touch it for less than $20k US. Let the community know what it goes for

 

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

I wonder what it will go for...deep back woods rural and all...
What should I consider for a max bid ? Upgrading my SR to ER would be worth some $$ to me, not $20K but certainly 6-7k if I "knew" the battery is ok. I figure even if I swap the battery packs and it turns out the ER pack is not good, swap back again to the SR and nothing lost but my time.

I plan to keep my truck for 7-8 years and expect by then there will be far better EV truck options. Meanwhile would I need any serious parts in that time line - I drive 50,000km (30,000 miles) a year minimum.

What would you offer to buy such a truck if you had the space to store it and the tools/ shop to use the parts off it...would you list parts for sale to recapture (some of) your money.

 

[ZSC100]

I wonder what it will go for...deep back woods rural and all...
What should I consider for a max bid ? Upgrading my SR to ER would be worth some $$ to me, not $20K but certainly 6-7k if I "knew" the battery is ok. I figure even if I swap the battery packs and it turns out the ER pack is not good, swap back again to the SR and nothing lost but my time.

I plan to keep my truck for 7-8 years and expect by then there will be far better EV truck options. Meanwhile would I need any serious parts in that time line - I drive 50,000km (30,000 miles) a year minimum.

What would you offer to buy such a truck if you had the space to store it and the tools/ shop to use the parts off it...would you list parts for sale to recapture (some of) your money.

Yes, yes, and yes.

I'd pay $10k for an ER battery immediately and I think anyone with an SR with a bad module would too. This will be the game very very soon. I've yet to see a bad module out of warranty, but it WILL start happening,, any day now. I have a dealer that will sell me modules for a very good price and I will replace my own, but for someone who doesn't want to waste the labor of removing a battery swapping to an ER is totally worth $10k.

If I was close to this I'd pay $20k for it. I'd have to see the damage, but I think if it runs and drives it will bring minimum $20k.


And yes, putting parts on eBay is a great idea then you don't even have to pull them until they sell.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Consider what 90-130 kWh of cells is worth to you. I know you have a lot of battery backup already, so it might not be worth getting another bunch of kWh. An LFP battery importer like DocanPower sells a 15 kWh LFP with BMS for $1500 (US). If you can get 8 working modules of ~16 kWh from the vehicle for less than $10k, then it seems worth it even if you can’t make use of the battery for your original goal. Especially since you’ll also have all the other parts you can use or sell.

I’ve been considering a similar project, but I have too many projects right now as it is.

 

[MountainAlive]

If I had the storage space, shop and tools then I’d be interested in doing this too. But alas I can barely fit my lawn mower in my garage at the moment.

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